Storage tank assembly and system for storing waste cooking oil

ABSTRACT

A storage tank and method for monitoring thereof is provided. The tank includes a first panel that defines a mounting surface for carrying a heating element. The heating element extends into the tank for heating liquids stowed therein. A sidewall interconnects the first panel and a spaced-apart second panel. A support extends from a bottom-facing surface of the second panel for supporting the tank in a spaced-apart relation from a nearby surface. The support further defines an upward-facing pocket for receiving a portion of the heating element. A control system may monitor the storage tank and alert a service provider of operative conditions thereof.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/296,733 filed on Jan. 20, 2010, U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/321,485 filed on Apr. 6, 2010, and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/366,197 filed on Jul. 21, 2010, the entirecontents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed towards astorage tank assembly that is used at food handling facilities, such asrestaurants for the storage of cooking grease. More particularly, thestorage tank assembly of this presently disclosed subject matter isdirected towards a translucent plastic tank having a heater to maintainthe fluidity of the stored cooking grease and a control system formonitoring the storage tank assembly.

BACKGROUND

Most restaurants use bulk quantities of cooking oil for frying food andrequire a method or apparatus for bulk storage of both fresh and spent(used or waste) oil. Waste cooking oil can be recycled for use in cattlefeed, bio-fuels, soap and other products. There are a multitude ofrecyclers willing to collect waste cooking oil from restaurants on aroutine basis. In some instances, restaurants would deposit their wastecooking oil in drums that were typically stored outside where they werepicked up when full.

Many attempts have been made to transport waste oil from cooking fryersto metal holding containers that made it easier for recyclers to collectthe waste oil. These attempts have various disadvantages associatedtherewith, as handling and storing of waste cooking oil at restaurantsis labor intensive, hazardous, and wasteful. Restaurant personnel weresubject to hot oil burns, slipping on greasy floors, or injury due tolifting and pouring waste oil into a holding tank. Additionally,conventional tank storage systems may have been bulky or heavy.

Service providers that collect waste cooking oil from restaurants forrecycling have an incentive to provide improved equipment for thehandling and storage of waste cooking oil. Un-warmed waste oil must beheated to make it sufficiently fluid to be poured or pumped out of theholding container into a tanker truck for removal. Waste oil that istemporarily stored outside the restaurant can attract animals, becomecontaminated, and cause a slick hazardous walking surface.

Today there are service providers that provide their restaurantcustomers improved equipment that make it safer, less labor intensiveand cleaner to transfer the waste oil from the fryers to the oil holdingtank for periodic collection. These tank storage systems aresufficiently translucent so that the oil level can be viewed fromoutside the tank so that when the oil level reaches a predeterminedlevel, the service provider may be contacted for collection. Thesesystems may also include a liquid level sensor or switch that can signala high level or overflow condition to make restaurant personnel awarethat the service provider should be contacted immediately. The use of ahigh level alarm is particularly useful for automatic storage tanksystems that include a pump to transfer heated waste cooking oildirectly from the fryers or cookers to the holding tank. Automaticstorage tank systems are convenient for restaurants but can causeproblems due to unexpected equipment failure such as failed pumps,automatic valves, heaters, and stuck or clogged liquid level sensors orswitches.

Accordingly, there is a need for a storage tank assembly and controlsystem that addresses the various issues presented with conventionalstorage tank assemblies.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a storage tank is provided. The storage tankincludes a first panel defining a mounting surface for carrying aheating element that extends into the tank for heating liquids stowedtherein and a sidewall interconnecting the first panel and aspaced-apart second panel. A support extends from a bottom-facingsurface of the second panel for supporting the second panel in aspaced-apart relation from a support surface. The support also definesan upward-facing pocket for receiving a portion of the heating element.

According to another aspect, the tank includes a platform extending fromthe first panel for mounting the heating element.

According to another aspect, the tank includes a rim extending around aperiphery of the first panel.

According to another aspect, the tank includes a plurality of supportsextending from the bottom-facing surface of the second panel, thesupports configured for spacing the second panel from the supportsurface.

According to another aspect, the first panel and the second panelgenerally define a disk shape.

According to another aspect, the sidewall defines a taper between thefirst panel and the second panel.

According to one aspect, a storage tank assembly is provided. Thestorage tank assembly includes a tank having a first panel and aspaced-apart second panel that is interconnected therewith by asidewall, and a heating element extending into the tank for heatingliquids stowed therein. The second panel defines a support extendingfrom a bottom-facing surface thereof that further defines anupwardly-facing pocket that receives a portion of the heating element.

According to another aspect, the tank assembly includes a platformextending from the first panel for mounting one of the heating elementor outlet pipe.

According to another aspect, the tank assembly includes a pump forpumping liquids, an outlet pipe for communicating with an external tank,a liquid level gage for gaging the level of liquid in the tank, and avent for venting liquids in the tank.

According to another aspect, the tank assembly includes a control panelin communication with the liquid level gage for communicating with acontrol system.

According to another aspect, the tank assembly includes a platformextending from the first panel for mounting at least one of the pump,outlet pipe, liquid level gage, or vent.

According to another aspect, the tank assembly includes a rim extendingaround a periphery of the first panel.

According to another aspect, the tank assembly includes a plurality ofsupports extending from the bottom-facing surface of the second panel,the supports configured for spacing the second panel from a supportsurface.

According to another aspect, the first panel and the second panelgenerally define a disk shape.

According to another aspect, the sidewall defines a taper between thefirst panel and the second panel.

According to one aspect, a method is provided. The method includesdetermining a liquid level in a storage tank, associating an operativecondition based on the liquid level, and sending a signal correspondingto the operative condition.

According to another aspect, determining a liquid level comprisesdetermining a liquid level using a pressure transducer carried by thetank.

According to another aspect, associating an operative condition based onthe liquid level comprises associating an at capacity operativecondition when the liquid level is full.

According to another aspect, associating an operative condition based onthe liquid level comprises associating a less than capacity operativecondition when the liquid level is less than full.

According to another aspect, associating an operative condition based onthe liquid level comprises associating an overflow operative conditionwhen the liquid level is greater than full.

According to another aspect, sending a signal corresponding to theoperative condition comprises sending a wireless signal.

According to another aspect, sending a signal corresponding to theoperative condition comprises sending a Short Message Service (SMS).

According to another aspect, sending a signal corresponding to theoperative condition comprises sending a signal to a service provider.

According to one aspect, a system is provided. The system includes astorage tank, a liquid level gage in operative communication with thetank, and a control panel in communication with the liquid level gageand configured to associate an operative condition based on the liquidlevel and send a signal corresponding to the operative condition.

According to another aspect, the liquid level gage is a pressuretransducer.

According to another aspect, the control panel is configured toassociate an at capacity operative condition when the liquid level isfull.

According to another aspect, the control panel is configured toassociate a less than capacity operative condition when the liquid levelis less than full.

According to another aspect, the control panel is configured toassociate an overflow operative condition when the liquid level isgreater than full.

According to another aspect, the control panel is configured toassociate an operative condition based on the liquid level at a firsttime and the liquid level at a second time.

According to another aspect, the control panel is configured to send awireless signal.

According to another aspect, the control panel is configured to send aShort Message Service (SMS).

According to another aspect, the control panel is configured to send asignal corresponding to the operative condition to a service provider.

According to one aspect, a system is provided. The system includes awaste oil storage tank, at least one sensor in operative communicationwith the storage tank, and a control panel in communication with the atleast one sensor and configured to associate an operative conditionbased on a response received from the at least one sensor, and furtherconfigured to send a signal corresponding to the operative condition toa service provider.

According to another aspect, the sensor is a liquid level sensor, andthe control panel is configured to associate an at capacity operativecondition when the liquid level is full, a less than capacity operativecondition when the liquid level is less than full, and an overflowoperative condition when the liquid level is greater than full.

According to another aspect, the sensor is a temperature sensor incommunication with a pump that is in fluid communication with the tank,and the control panel is configured to associate an overheated operativecondition when the temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

According to another aspect, the sensor is a failure sensor incommunication with a heating element carried by the tank and configuredfor detecting a failure of the heating element, and the control panel isconfigured to associate a heating element failure operative conditionwhen a heating element failure is detected.

According to another aspect, the sensor is a sensor in communicationwith a vent pipe in fluid communication with the tank and configured fordetecting filling or evacuation of the tank, and the control panel isconfigured to associate a filling operative condition when filling ofthe tank is detected and an evacuation operative condition whenevacuation of the tank is detected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofvarious embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, there is shownin the drawings exemplary embodiments; however, the presently disclosedsubject matter is not limited to the specific methods andinstrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a storage tank assembly proximal oil cookersaccording to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 2A is a front view of a storage tank assembly according to one ormore embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 2B is a side view of a storage tank assembly according to one ormore embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 3A is a top facing perspective view of a storage tank according toone or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 3B is a top facing perspective view of a storage tank assemblyaccording to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional side view of a storage tank according toone or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional side view of a storage tank having aheating element and liquid stowed therein according to one or moreembodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 5 is a bottom facing perspective view of a storage tank assemblyaccording to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 6A is an exploded view of a heating element for use with a storagetank assembly according to one or more embodiments of the disclosedsubject matter;

FIG. 6B is a front view of a heating element for use with a storage tankassembly according to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subjectmatter;

FIG. 7A is side view of a cart for use in transporting waste oil forstowage in a storage tank assembly according to one or more embodimentsof the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 7B is a side view of a cart for use in transporting waste oil forstowage in a storage tank assembly according to one or more embodimentsof the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a control system according to one or moreembodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a control panel according to one or moreembodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram for use with a control panel according toone or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart depicting a method according to one or moreembodiments of the disclosed subject matter; and

FIG. 12 is a flow chart depicting a method according to one or moreembodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The presently disclosed subject matter now will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some,but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, presently disclosed subjectmatter may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

A storage tank assembly is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is generallydesignated 10. As illustrated, storage tank assembly 10 may bepositioned within a structure that additionally includes cookers “C” orother restaurant equipment that may have waste liquids as a by-product.

The storage tank assembly 10 includes a tank 12 that is defined by afirst panel 14 and a spaced-apart second panel 16. A sidewall 20interconnects each of the first panel 14 and the second panel 16. Atleast one support 30 may extend from a bottom facing surface 32 of thesecond panel 16 and is provided for maintaining the bottom facingsurface 32 of the tank 12 a predetermined distance away from a nearbysupport surface “S”. A pump 40 may be provided on the first panel 14 forpumping fluids through, for example, a line 41 that extends from a wastecontainer 66 that may contain waste fluids. The waste fluids may be, forexample, waste cooking oil from cookers “C”, while in other embodimentsmay be any by-product liquid that may be encountered in a commercial,industrial, or residential facility such as, but not limited to, usedmotor oils or water saturated with harmful chemicals. In otherembodiments, the cookers “C” may be connected to the tank assembly 10 bya line extending from each cooker “C”.

The pump 40 is configured such that it can transfer heated liquids intothe oil storage tank 12 without failure. The pump 40 may have a thermalswitch that prevents the pump from operating when the oil temperatureexceeds a pre-set maximum operating temperature. The pump 40 may alsohave a time limit switch that will not allow the pump 40 to be operatedfor more than a predetermined period of time.

The tank 12 may be made of any suitable material, and in one or moreembodiments, may be made of translucent polyethylene to eliminatecorrosion and to further provide a translucent property so that theliquid level may be observed from outside of the tank 12. The tank 12may also be rotationally molded, and may included graphics or otherliquid level indicating indicia on an outside surface thereof.

An outlet pipe 24 may be provided in communication with the tankassembly 10 for communicating with an external storage tank 26 throughline 27. The outlet pipe 24 may include an in-line valve that provides alevel of security against unauthorized pumping of the tank 12. Storagetank 26 may be carried by a vehicle 26 for transport, or may be anexternal storage tank that is in communication with, for example, arefinery that can process the liquid waste by-product contained therein.

The storage tank assembly 10 and storage tank 12 are further describedwith reference to FIGS. 2A through 5. As depicted, the storage tankassembly 10 includes a tank 12 that is defined by the first panel 14,second panel 16, and interconnecting sidewall 20. A control panel 46 ismounted to the sidewall 20. The control panel 46 may be in communicationwith a heating element 22, pump 40, and liquid level gage 42. As usedherein, gage and sensor may be interchangeably used and arerepresentative of any device or apparatus that can detect acharacteristic to be measured. The heating element 22 may be providedfor heating the liquid contained within the tank 12 to a sufficientlywarm temperature so as to reduce viscosity of the liquid for ease ofremoval, pouring, and pumping. For example, if the liquid is oil, thenthe heating element 22 may heat the oil to approximately 115 to 130degrees Fahrenheit to keep the fluids at a sufficiently low viscosity.

The first panel 14 and sidewall 20 of the storage tank 12 are depictedin FIGS. 3A and 3B. As depicted in FIG. 3A, the sidewall 20 defines arecess 47 that receives the control panel 46. A rim 50 may be providedalong a periphery of the first panel 14. A plurality of platforms 36 orrisers extend from the first panel 14. The platforms 36 provide amounting surface for each of the heating element 22, pump 40, liquidlevel gage 42, vent 44, and inlet pipe 45. Vent 44 may be provided fordischarging air in the tank 12 when the tank 12 is being filled, whilealso drawing in air when the tank 12 is being evacuated. The vent 44 maybe provided in fluid communication within a facility such as arestaurant, or may be vented to an outside environment. The vent 44 mayalso be provided with a sensor or gage that monitors fluid flowtherethrough and is configured for providing indication of the tank 12either being filled or evacuated.

The pump 40 may be secured to the platform 36 by threaded fasteners suchas machine screws or bolts, or may be secured by any other appropriatemanner. The heating element 22 may be secured by being threadablyengaged in a correspondingly threaded recess formed in either theplatform 36 or panel 14. Similarly, the liquid level gage 42, vent 44,and inlet pipe 45 may be threadeably engaged in a corresponding threadedrecess formed in either the platform 36 or panel 14. In one or moreembodiments, any suitable manner of securing each of the heating element22, liquid level gage 42, vent 44, and inlet pipe 45 to either theplatform 36 or panel 14 may be utilized.

Each of the pump heating element 22, pump 40, and liquid level gage 42may be in communication with the control panel 46. The control panel 46is configured for controlling various functions of each of the heatingelement 22 and pump 40 to provide notification to an operator or serviceprovider according to a system and method disclosed and described withrelation to FIG. 8.

A cross-sectional view of the tank 12 is depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B.FIG. 4A depicts the tank 12 without any hardware installed thereon. Asdepicted, the supports 30 form “feet” for maintaining the tank 12 inspaced-apart arrangement from a nearby ground surface. The supports 30are in structural and fluid communication with the tank 12 and furtherdefine upwardly-facing pockets 34 within the tank 12. In one or moreembodiments, such as those depicted in FIG. 4B, these pockets 34 areconfigured for receiving and nesting with, for example, the heatingelement 22. In this manner, the heating element 22 is supported on abottom portion thereof within the pocket 34 that is formed in support30. This represents an advantage over systems that are supported at onlya top portion. In those systems, bulky hardware must be utilized at thetop portion of the tank, adding unwanted weight and cost. Additionally,reinforcements may be required at the top portion of the tank, and thereinforcements and increased weight may require the use of metal orthick plastic materials for constructing the tank 12. Additionally, inone or more embodiments, the outlet pipe 24, or any other hardwareextending from within the tank at a top portion thereof to a bottomportion thereof, may also be partially received within pocket 34 definedin one of the supports 30.

A liquid level “L” is also depicted in FIG. 4B. The liquid level “L”will vary depending on the amount of liquid in the tank 12. The liquidlevel gage 42 is in communication with the tank 12 for determining theliquid level “L” at any given time. The liquid level gage 42 may be anysuitable liquid gage, including a float type, pressure or pneumatictype, or one utilizing ultrasonic measuring. The liquid level gage 42may be positioned in the first panel 14, or in other embodiments, may bepositioned at varying vertical positions within the tank 12. In one ormore embodiments, an ultrasonic liquid level gage may be utilized thathas a relay controller in order to eliminate designs with multiplegages. Each gage may also measure the liquid level at a first and asecond time period, and compare the measurements at the first and secondtimes to determine an operative condition of the tank assembly 10.

FIG. 6A depicts an exploded front view of one or more embodiments of theheating element 22. As depicted, the heating element 22 includes aresistive element 23 that is configured for being received within acasing 25. Casing 25 acts to provide a greater surface area for heatingof liquids contained in the tank 12, as well as protect the resistiveelement 23 from liquids and contamination. The heating element 22 may besecured into the casing 25 by fasteners, a press fit, adhesive, or anyother suitable manner. As depicted in FIG. 6B, the resistive element 23includes communication wires 49 for being in communication with thecontrol panel 46. The heating element 22 is sized to provide an optimumtemperature to keep the liquid at a sufficiently low viscosity.

FIG. 7A depicts a cart 60 for transporting waste fluids, such as cookingoil, from a waste site, such as cookers “C” depicted in FIG. 1. The cart60 may include a pump 62 that is powered by electricity received throughcord 64. In one or more embodiments such as those depicted in FIG. 7B,the cart 60 may not include a pump and may instead receive pumpingforces from external sources such as pump 40 of the tank assembly 10. Inthis manner, hose 41 that is connected with pump 40 as depicted in FIG.2B would be inserted into the cart 60 and waste fluids would then bepumped into the tank 12.

The hose 41 may be connected to a suction wand assembly 43, as depictedin FIG. 2B, for drawing or sucking the liquid out of a container, suchas container 66 depicted in FIG. 1, while in one or more embodiments,the wand assembly 43 may be directly connected with or configured fordirectly connecting with cookers “C”. In one or more embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter, the hose 41 or wand assembly 43 may include atemperature control unit in communication therewith that monitorsincoming liquid temperature so that the pump 40 will not pump liquidthat is above a predetermined temperature. In one or more embodiments,the predetermined temperature may be 160 degrees Fahrenheit. A filtermay also be provided in communication with the wand assembly 43 forfiltering particles in the liquid.

A control system 100 is depicted in FIG. 8 for use with tank assembly 10according to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.The control system 100 is in communication with the heating element 22,outlet pipe 24, pump 40, liquid level gage 42, and control panel 46.Additionally, the control system 100 may be in communication with atemperature gage 90 for determining the temperature of waste fluids inthe tank 12 or for determining the temperature of fluids entering thepump 40. The control system 100 may also be in communication with acomputing unit 92 that determines, for example, the liquid level “L” inthe tank 12 according to a signal received from the liquid level gage42. Additionally, a signal relayer 94 may be provided in communicationwith the control system 100 for relaying signals from the computing unitto a remote service provider 200. The control system 100 may also be incommunication with a memory device 96 for storing information from thecomputing unit 92. The memory device 96 may be any device capable ofstoring analog or digital information thereon. The signal relayer 94 mayrelay information to the service provider 200 by land telephone line,cellular transmission, internet, or any other suitable communicationmedium. In one or more embodiments, short message services (SMS) ormultimedia message services (MMS) may be utilized. The informationtransmitted may be, for example, notification that tank 12 is full orclose to full, or that the tank 12 is in an overflow condition.Additionally, a timer switch may be in communication with the pump 40that will automatically power off the pump after being operational for apredetermined period of time, which in one or more embodiments, may be athree to five minute interval. A pressure switch such as a diaphragmvalve may be in communication with the vent 44 that is operable todetect an overflow and, in response thereto, the control system 100 maypower off the pump 40, while in other embodiments, the pressure switchmay be operable to detect that the tank 12 is being filled or evacuated.In one or more embodiments, the control system 100 may be furtherconfigured to detect failure of any of the devices in communicationtherewith, including a failed pump 40 or failed heater element 22.

A front view of the control panel 46 is depicted in FIG. 9. The controlpanel 46 may include a plurality of switches 66 on a front panel 68thereof. The switches may be illuminatable to represent variousoperative conditions.

FIG. 10 depicts an electrical wiring diagram that may be used inconjuction with the control system 100. The arrangement of the heatingelement 22, pump 40, liquid level gage 42, temperature gage 90,computing unit 92, and signal relayer 94 may be depicted according tothe wiring diagram of FIG. 10.

The control system 100 may be configured to monitor the tank assembly ina manner generally depicted as a flow chart in FIG. 11 in which a method200 is provided. The method 200 may include determining a liquid levelin a storage tank 202, associating an operative condition based on theliquid level 204, and sending a signal corresponding to the operativecondition 206. As used herein, operative condition may mean any status,identifier, or similar that provides an indication as to the operativecondition of the tank assembly 10.

FIG. 11 depicts illustrative examples of operative conditions. Across-sectional view consistent with FIG. 4A representing variousrespective operative conditions according to method 300 is provided. Themethod 300 may include determining a liquid level in a storage tank 302.If the liquid level “L” is at a predetermined “full” position, then theliquid level is full 304. The method 300 associates an at capacityoperative condition 306 and sends a signal corresponding to an atcapacity operative to a service provider 308. If the liquid level “L” isbelow a predetermined “full” position, then the liquid level is lessthan full 310. The method 300 associates a less than capacity operativecondition 312 and sends a signal corresponding to at capacity operativeto a service provider 314. If the liquid level “L” is above apredetermined “full” position, then the liquid level is greater thanfull 316. The method 300 associates an overflow operative condition 318and sends a signal corresponding to at capacity operative to a serviceprovider 320. The overflow operative condition may also be determinedby, for example, monitoring fluid flowthrough in the vent 44.

The various techniques described herein may be implemented with hardwareor software or, where appropriate, with a combination of both. Thesetechniques may be embodied on a server or control system 100 of thepresently disclosed subject matter. Thus, the methods and apparatus ofthe disclosed embodiments, or certain aspects or portions thereof, maytake the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangiblemedia, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any othermachine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code isloaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machinebecomes an apparatus for practicing the presently disclosed invention.In the case of program code execution on programmable computers, thecomputer will generally include a processor, a storage medium readableby the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/orstorage elements), at least one input device and at least one outputdevice. One or more programs are preferably implemented in a high levelprocedural or object oriented programming language to communicate with acomputer system. However, the program(s) can be implemented in assemblyor machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be acompiled or interpreted language, and combined with hardwareimplementations.

The described methods and apparatus may also be embodied in the form ofprogram code that is transmitted over some transmission medium, such asover electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via anyother form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is receivedand loaded into and executed by a machine, such as an EPROM, a gatearray, a programmable logic device (PLD), a client computer, a videorecorder or the like, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicingthe presently disclosed invention. When implemented on a general-purposeprocessor, the program code combines with the processor to provide aunique apparatus that operates to perform the processing of thepresently disclosed invention.

While the embodiments have been described in connection with thepreferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understoodthat other similar embodiments may be used or modifications andadditions may be made to the described embodiment for performing thesame function without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosedembodiments should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rathershould be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appendedclaims.

1. A method comprising: determining a liquid level in a storage tank;associating an operative condition based on the liquid level; andsending a signal corresponding to the operative condition.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein determining a liquid level comprisesdetermining a liquid level using a pressure transducer carried by thetank.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein associating anoperative condition based on the liquid level comprises associating anat capacity operative condition when the liquid level is full.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein associating an operative conditionbased on the liquid level comprises associating a less than capacityoperative condition when the liquid level is less than full.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein associating an operative conditionbased on the liquid level comprises associating an overflow operativecondition when the liquid level is greater than full.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein sending a signal corresponding to theoperative condition comprises sending a wireless signal.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein sending a signal corresponding to theoperative condition comprises sending a Short Message Service (SMS). 8.The method according to claim 1, wherein sending a signal correspondingto the operative condition comprises sending a signal to a serviceprovider.
 9. A system comprising: a storage tank; a liquid level gage inoperative communication with the tank; and a control panel incommunication with the liquid level gage and configured to associate anoperative condition based on the liquid level and send a signalcorresponding to the operative condition.
 10. The system according toclaim 9, wherein the liquid level gage is a pressure transducer.
 11. Thesystem according to claim 9, wherein the control panel is configured toassociate an at capacity operative condition when the liquid level isfull.
 12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the control panel isconfigured to associate a less than capacity operative condition whenthe liquid level is less than full.
 13. The system according to claim 9,wherein the control panel is configured to associate an overflowoperative condition when the liquid level is greater than full.
 14. Thesystem according to claim 9, wherein the control panel is configured toassociate an operative condition based on the liquid level at a firsttime and the liquid level at a second time.
 15. The system according toclaim 9, wherein the control panel is configured to send a wirelesssignal.
 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the control panelis configured to send a Short Message Service (SMS).
 17. The systemaccording to claim 9, wherein the control panel is configured to send asignal corresponding to the operative condition to a service provider.18. A system comprising: a waste oil storage tank; at least one sensorin operative communication with the storage tank; and a control panel incommunication with the at least one sensor and configured to associatean operative condition based on a response received from the at leastone sensor, and further configured to send a signal corresponding to theoperative condition to a service provider.
 19. The system according toclaim 18, wherein the sensor is a liquid level sensor, and the controlpanel is configured to associate an at capacity operative condition whenthe liquid level is full, a less than capacity operative condition whenthe liquid level is less than full, and an overflow operative conditionwhen the liquid level is greater than full.
 20. The system according toclaim 18, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor in communicationwith a pump that is in fluid communication with the tank, and thecontrol panel is configured to associate an overheated operativecondition when the temperature is above a predetermined temperature. 21.The system according to claim 18, wherein the sensor is a failure sensorin communication with a heating element carried by the tank andconfigured for detecting a failure of the heating element, and thecontrol panel is configured to associate a heating element failureoperative condition when a heating element failure is detected.
 22. Thesystem according to claim 18, wherein the sensor is a sensor incommunication with a vent pipe in fluid communication with the tank andconfigured for detecting filling or evacuation of the tank, and thecontrol panel is configured to associate a filling operative conditionwhen filling of the tank is detected and an evacuation operativecondition when evacuation of the tank is detected.